[FELID_FACTOR]

[skinstealer]

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FOIL- 4/14/316

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Food type donor, that’s out, research candidate, god no, all of these suck so bad…

The fox type flops backwards onto her couch with a huff, her sigh of exasperation turning to a growl of annoyance as her phone goes off.

Probably just some MessiRoom notification. Whoever it is, they can wait, I’m trying to actually get some shit done for once. Become self sufficient. Self sustaining. Whatever the word is.

Foil picks the newspaper in her lap back up and tries to focus on the tiny print ads, practically microscopic for a complex’s eyes.

FOIL: ...waitress, maybe? I could probably do that.
FOIL: Claire always said I could pull off one of the uniforms, anyway.

Her phone goes off again and she growls and grumbles as she grabs it off the nearby end table, flipping it open and seeing who’s bothering her.

[REMNANT_TREASURES]: u up?
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: i have news
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: one second, i’m busy.
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: oooh doing what
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: ur so mysterious tricky
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i’m not mysterious, i’m looking through job listings and i need to focus!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: oh
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: i thought you were like, going on one of your club adventures or something

Foil sighs, pressing a paw to her face.

[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i mean
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i /was/ planning on doing that in a bit, yes
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: ooo mysterious
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i thought we said we weren’t going to flirt anymore?
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: im not flirting!!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: this is completely platonic intrigue
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: if you say so
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: the point is, i’m trying to find a job…
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: that’s rough...also kind of awkward for what i was about to talk about o_o
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: please, i’m not going to be petty over you getting a promotion or something
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: not quiiiite
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: what, then?
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: you know that designer i really like…[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: the kind of pretentious one?
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: she is not pretentious!!
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: she has pretentious vibes!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: yeah, well! i work with her now
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: oh
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: oh!
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: congrats?!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: yeah! it’s a big deal!

Great...made a bit of an ass of myself there…

She gets up from the couch and heads to her closet, looking through for a dress to wear. Something nice, but not too nice. A glittery dress that she’s worn a million times comes to mind- she always ends up picking it, but it’s...familiar. Like an old friend. She slips it on and starts brushing her fur, glancing over at her phone every now and again to keep up with Remmy’s messages.

[REMNANT_TREASURES]: i waited a bit to tell you and crit, i just wanted to make sure like...the deal was /real/, that i wasn’t dreaming, you know?
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: but it’s real! i’m doing it!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: i feel kind of shitty talking about it when you’re in the middle of hunting, but…
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: i don’t know, i think it’ll work out in the end.
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: my luck’s gotta turn up right eventually, yeah? [REMNANT_TREASURES]: yeah!
[REMNANT_TREASURES]: have a fun night clubbing, okay? and stay safe!
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: will do ;)

Time to go.

She doesn’t even know why she goes to this club in particular, honestly. It’s kind of a hole in the wall and she doesn’t know anyone here, but it’s there, it’s within walking distance, and...it has alcohol.

A lot of alcohol.

She’s on her fifth shot when her phone buzzes, and when she flips it open, there’s a weird feeling in her chest as she sees that it’s Claire.

[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: What are you up to?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: at the club
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Alone? Or with someone?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: alone
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Are you drinking?

Oh, yeah. I am definitely doing that.

[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: a little
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Has anyone else talked to you?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: no
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Good. You know you aren’t allowed to talk to anyone else when you’re drunk.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: I don’t want you getting any ideas.
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: im not gonna leave you claire
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Hm.
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: im not
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: I’d be more convinced if you hadn’t suggested trying an “open relationship” after gushing about that friend of yours.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: The one that wasn’t even interested in you.
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: claire, please…

Another message comes in, and Foil has never been more relieved to switch tabs.

[CRITTER_CATCHER]: uhhhh
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: okay checking: are you drunk right now
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: remmy warned me you were clubbing
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: only a litle
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: typos. great
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: just wanted to check on you i guess
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: you know i don’t do great with the whole drinking thing but i just. worry about you and i wanted to make sure you’re okay
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: i honestly don’t think you should be going out on your own like this but you didn’t sign up for me preaching at you
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: ill be ok
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: ...thats not something okay people usually say
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: not like that

Claire is still messaging her.

[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: I’m just saying what needs to be said, Foil.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: I’m still hurt by your actions, and you still haven’t made it up to me.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Are you ignoring me?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: how do i maek itup to you
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Hm.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: On our next meetup, I want you to take me to a restaurant. One that you save up for with your new job, which you will get. A good job. Full time.
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Prove to me that you’re serious about our relationship and our future together.

Her head hurts so badly.

[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: We can talk about things there.

Foil hesitates, her paw shaking over her phone’s touchpad. The idea of a full time job fills her with dread she can barely parse through the alcohol induced haze, the room starting to sway back and forth.

Can I do that? Can I really do that? Can I keep to that? Can I really make that happen? Will someone even give me that?

[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: ok
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Promise.

She feels like crying, a little.

[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i promise
[FLORAL_FRAGRANCE]: Good.

[CRITTER_CATCHER]: tricky?
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: tricky, are you there?
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: shit you didn’t pass out again did you
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: fdshjdfashj
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: fuck
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: no im here
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: sory
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: claire
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: oh
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: are things...okay
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: i have to get a job
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: there are like, programs in precipice, right?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: idk
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: head hurts
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: il look tomrow
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: ok
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: im here if you need to talk
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: you’re...going to be okay, okay?
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: remmy and i are here for you.
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: do you need me to call a ride for you?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: yes pleas
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: okay. it’s the same place as last time, right?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: yea
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: got it...i’ve got you, okay?
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: thank you
[TRICKSTERS_COCKTAIL]: so mch
[CRITTER_CATCHER]: hang in there, i’ll talk with you until the ride gets here.

Foil hangs onto her phone as best as she can, latching onto every message of Crit’s like a life preserver as everything swirls around her.

It may have been something she couldn’t even begin to unpack her feelings on, but at least she had this.